A Mississippi Baptist minister-turned-lawmaker says he fears for his life after he reportedly cited Bible passages that denounced homosexuality on Facebook.

Rep. Andy Gipson, reacting to President Barack Obama's recent endorsement of marriage equality, said, "The only opinion that counts is God's," he said before posting a passage from the Book of Leviticus on May 10. The passage read, "If a man has sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They are to be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads."

Soon after a petition was started demanding that Gipson apologize, and that he meet with LGBT activists. However Gipson then said, "I do not, cannot, and will not apologize for the inspired truth of God's Word."

MSNBC reported that Gipson has since been on the receiving end of death threats. He also said that he has "never publicly or privately called for the killing of any people."